Former footballing hard men Dermott Brereton, Cameron Mooney and Campbell Brown have reacted with fury to Melbourne’s Jack Viney being forced to face the tribunal over an incident in which Adelaide player Tom Lynch’s jaw was broken.

While charged players Richmond’s Brett Deledio and Geelong’s Mathew Stokes easily trump Viney for profile – both players have been offered a one-match ban, for striking – it was the match review panel’s decision with regard to the second-year Demon that has attracted the most attention.

The incident occurred early in Saturday’s match at the Adelaide Oval between the Crows and Demons. Lynch was leading his opponent, Alex Georgiou, to centre half-forward and gained possession just before Viney, who was coming from the opposite direction, arrived on the scene.

The Demon midfielder braced for the impact and his shoulder made contact with Lynch’s neck. This was followed by a forceful head clash between Lynch and Georgiou, who was tackling him from behind.

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Lynch had to be substituted and is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.

The panel can refer incidents to the tribunal if it believes the resulting penalty from its formula for determining penalties would be inappropriate. If Viney had been charged with negligent conduct, high contact and severe impact – likely due to Lynch’s injury – he would have faced a 425-point penalty, which could have been cut to three matches and 18.75 carry-over points with a guilty plea.

Brereton argued it would be a ‘‘landmark decision’’, and not a positive one, by the tribunal if it suspended Viney over the collision with Lynch.

‘‘If we do [find him guilty] what we’re now saying is we don’t want any injuries, regardless of the scenario,’’ he told SEN radio.

Mooney was similarly concerned about the resulting effect on the way the game is played if Viney was suspended for what he argued was a ‘‘clean bump’’.

‘‘Can’t believe it’s gone this far ... AFL [please] have common sense on this,’’ the former Geelong key forward said on Twitter.

Former Melbourne chief executive Cameron Schwab similarly used Twitter to question the pursuit of Viney.

The base penalties for Deledio and Stokes of two matches were both for alleged striking incidents in Sunday’s Cats-Tigers match: Deledio against Stokes, Stokes against Richmond’s Steve Morris. Deledio’s ban is automatically cut to one match due to his good record. Should both accept the charges, Deledio would have 26.56 carry-over points and Stokes would have 68.75. Deledio had only just returned from a month out with an Achilles injury.

Key Fremantle midfielder David Mundy’s good disciplinary record saved him from facing suspension for rough conduct against West Coast’s Scott Selwood in Sunday’s western derby. Brisbane Lions forward Luke McGuane can accept a reprimand for striking Sydney’s Jeremy Laidler, but only if he pleads guilty to cut the one-match ban to 93.75 carry-over points.

The match-day report laid against North Melbourne’s Lindsay Thomas for striking was withdrawn.